Pile driving apparatus



May 3, 1932. E. D. WATT FILE DRIVING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A9. W BYW, ATTORN Y5 May 3, 1932. E. D. WATT PILE DRIVING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BYfi v ATTORNEYS lol Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED PATENT- omen ELIHU I). WATT, OF LA GRANGE, I-LLINOTS, ASSIGNOB T0 RAYMOND CONCRETE PILE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y'., A CORPORATION OF NEW? JERSEY PILE DRIVING- APPARATUS Application area NOVTZI1D1 26,1330. Serial No. 498,248.

. In th f rm n of. composite. piles it a been customary to first drive apre -cast concrete lower section until its upper end is at or near the ground level, then to attach a hollow shell to the upper end of the driven section, next to drive the lower section to proper depth by means of a core resting on top of the lower section, and finally to fill the shell with plastic concrete after the driving core is withdrawn.

The upper end of the pre-cast section has usually been provided with a cylindrical tenon to guide the section while being driven and to serve in the completed structure as an interlock between the pre-cast lower section and the cast-in-place upper section.

Mostof the driving impact was applied to the tenon, which, on account of its comparatively small area, was sometimes unable to withstand the strain imposed upon it.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to do away with the tenon and to disclose means for applying the driving impact over substantially the entire upper end of the lower pile section instead of limiting it to the restricted area of a tenon, thus reducing to a minimum the chances of fracture of lower sections during the driving operation.

Another object is to use reinforcing rods projecting upwardly from the lower section for the purpose of binding lower and upper sections together without the aid of a tenon.

Another object is to adapt the driving core and its appurtenances to accommodate the rods projecting upwardly from the lower section during the driving operation.

Further and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate what is now considered the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a cross-section of the upper end of the lower section with its upwardly projecting shell, and the lower end of the collapsible driving core with its shell. The View is taken while the parts are being assembled into operative position.

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 after the parts are assembled ready for driving.

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, of the upper part of the lower section and lower part of the upper section of the finished pile structure.

Fig, 4 is an enlarged view showing the core collapsed and partially withdrawn after driving.

Fig. 5' is a cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6, is a cross-section on line 66 of Fig. 4.

The lower pre-cast pile section comprises a body portion 10 provided at its upper end with a head 12 circular in cross-section and enclosed in a corrugated metal casing 14. The head may be cast within the casing when the pile section is formed. The corrugations are preferably arranged helically and tapered slightly inwardly towards the top so as to readily receive the threaded lower end 16 of upwardly extending tapered shell 18 which is usually joined to threaded portion 16 by welding at 20. Reinforcing rods. 22 are cast in the lower section and project upwardly into shell 18. The rods are at substantially equal distances from the center of the pile, as shown in Fig. 6.

The driving core is of the collapsible type, having three leaves 24, coupled in well known manner-by links 26 to vertical shaft 28, which is vertically movable to expand or collapse the core as desired. Expansion ofthe core is effected by conical surfaces such as 30 spaced along rod 28 and by a similar but larger surface 82 at the lower end of the core. Surface 32 is formed on an annular shell 84 threaded at 36 to hub 38 on shaft 28. Projecting downwardly from hub 38, within she-ll 34 is a plug 40 of such diameter as to leave an annular space 42, between plug 40 and shell 34. Plug 40 is counterbored as at 44 to. receive a bolt 46 having a head 48 which is free to move up and down in bore 44 bu is prevented from dropping out of bore 44 by pins 50. Surrounding the lower end of bolt 46 and held thereon by nut 52 is a cushion comprising a thin metal plate 54, several laminations of ply wood 56 and a metal top. plate58.

To. assemble the core and lower pile section in operative driving position, the core, after being encased in shell 60, is suspended, as in Fig. 1 with the driving cushion hanging on bolt 46 within shell 18 but just above the tops of rods 22. While in that position space is provided between the top of shell 18and the lower end ofthe core through which the operator may reach with his armor a tool to align holes 62 in the cushion With rods 22, after which the core is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2, nut 52 entering recess 64 in head 12. Rods 22, even though not exactly vertical, enter the annular space 42 and therefore do not interfere with the driving operation nor hinder the assembly of the apparatus preparatory to driving. After the driving operation is finished the driving core is withdrawn Fig. 4:) and the shells are filled with plastic concrete to form the composite pile with upper and lower sections indicated in Fig. 3.

It is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described but'may be used in other ways without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

- 1 In apparatus'of the class described, in

combination, a driving core, a cushion, and means for loosely and rotatablysupporting said cushion from the lower end of said core whereby said cushion may be rotated relatively to said core. f

2. In apparatus of the class described, in

joined as combination, a driving core, a cushion and means for, supporting said cushion for free vertical and rotatable movement relatively to said core.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which said supporting means comprises a bolt hanging from said core and engaging said cushion.

4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a driving core, a supporting member mounted for'free vertical movement relative to the core and a cushion mounted,

for rotative movement upon said member.

In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a driving core, a supporting member mounted for free vertical and rotative movement relative to the core and a cushion carried upon said member.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a driving core, a supporting member mounted for free vertical and rotatlve movement relative to the core and a cushion mounted for rotative movement upon said member. m

7 In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a driving core, a supporting member depending from the core, and a cushion mounted for free vertical and rotative movement upon said supporting member.

8. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a driving core having a cavity therein, a member mounted for free vertical and rotary movement in the cavity and a cushion carried by said member and having free vertical and rotary movement thereon.

9. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a collapsible driving core,

means for expanding and contracting the same, a tubular expanding element dependlng from said means, a driving extension on said means spaced from but arranged within the expanding element, said entensmn and ELIHU D. WATT.

nature. 

